Hissho wishes each of you a very Happy New Year for 2016!  Our 2015 was overflowing with growth and many blessings, which we expect to continue through 2016.  With our growth comes a demand for sushi and hot bar chefs, so if any of our readers would like to join our “family” then please let us know, and pass the word.
Each month, Hissho sends out Birthday Cards to our Franchisees and Employees, and this year I noticed that we have a total of 19 birthdays on January 1.  In a company of our size, this is highly unusual and fortuitous at the same time.  So with a bit of searching, I’ve compiled a bit of trivia for these special “babies.”  What is astounding is how everything seems to fit perfectly with our own model.
“Being born on the 1st day of the month means that it is likely that you are independent, loyal and energetic. The numerology number for people born on January 1 is considered to be 1. People born under this numerology number usually have leadership qualities, great will power and a unique approach to life, together with a charming personality. Those Capricorn people should be happy of the association with the number 1 in numerology, as this is the number of the people who have many achievements in life, of those who have the skills to deal with the bigger picture and are set to follow their goals no matter what.”
All these traits of course bode well for Hissho, since our positions require these traits for anyone to be successful.
“Those born in January are ambitious and hardworking. January 1 Zodiac people are organized and enthusiastic. Those born on January 1 can be characterized as resourceful and practical and there are very few activities in which they do not involve all the discipline they possess.”
Again, these are positive traits for our Hissho Chefs, either in sushi, or hot bar.
“They are active and are rapid to take on new tasks but they do prefer to know something about the subject and often do research before starting something. They put a great price on education and awareness and also have a forceful sense of justice. Caring a lot about what others think, they try to be naturally helpful to those around.”
Hissho has an extensive training program for every employee or franchisee, to make sure they are comfortable in their respective roles, and then our team continues to follow up for on-going training.  The photo below reflects our new trainees that started the year off right by joining our Hissho family……….. and we welcome them!

Hisshonians celebrate Christmas morning at Rescue Mission!  With 70^o F weather outside, and the sun shining, it seemed more like spring than Christmas Day in December.  Nine of our team gathered in the kitchen to help prepare the lunch for residents, guests, and family for the 11:30 AM meal.

Our CEO Philip Maung brought his wife and two sons to join in, and the daughter of another co-worker, filled the ranks to cut and place desserts, prepare rolls for warming, and any other duties assigned.
While we manned the kitchen, an army of other volunteers donned black bow ties on white shirts, with black slacks, to individually serve each guests as if they were in an expensive establishment.  Director Tony Marciano says Charlotte is the only facility of its kind in the country that has the volunteers wear a black tie.  In turn, Marciano says “that the guests not only come for the meal, but for the conversation, and are so appreciative that they are treated as an equal, and not a homeless person.”
Usually Hissho volunteers on Thanksgiving and Easter, but this year we added Christmas!  What a wonderful way to give back to the community.  We have been blessed to be a part of such a great organization as Rescue Mission.

‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through our house
Every creature was stirring, even the Hissho elves
The presents were all stacked on the table with care
In hopes that their gift would be one they would keep

 The employees were nestled, all snug in their chairs
While visions of splendor danced in the heads
And the moderators in their PJs & Christmas attire
Had just settled in to start the affair

As the numbers were called, each picked his gift
And hoped it was something they liked
But not one to be stolen, because
Only when it made 3 stops could it be claimed

The hilarity was rampant as new numbers perused the crowd
To see what gift they could pick, or might be stolen from the
Gifts that were hidden underneath tables, chairs or behind legs
As the robbers stealthily roamed the crowd

Some got to select more gifts than others
As their prizes became someone else’s
So again and again, they got a new gift
Until finally no one else wanted theirs

Hissho’s Yankee Swap is always full of fun
As the employees munched on snacks, savory and sweet
Eggnog, hot chocolate, soda or water
Until tummies were full of Christmas fare

And each one laughed until they cried
Until every person had their gift
Including the compact power bank
That Hissho gave each of us

So as we wait for Christmas Day
Then New Year, the Year of the Monkey
We wish each of you a fabulous holiday
From each of us at Hissho

Hissho continues to expand – horizontally, vertically and dimensionally. I say this because it seems someone is always pregnant at Hissho, and we wonder if maybe it couldn’t be “in the sushi” itself!
We have dedicated parking spaces for “Mothers-to-be,” but after adding 2 additional handmade signs on sticks for this same purpose, we finally decided to add VIP spaces. After all, mothers-to-be are Very Important Persons indeed. Our Core Values committee made quick work of getting it done.

Hissho has a strong tradition of giving back to the community and Thanksgiving Day is no exception.  Some of our Hissho team, who were not out of town or with family, volunteered in the morning at the Charlotte Rescue Mission, in the kitchen.  We love going there and sharing camaraderie with the entire kitchen team.  It’s like family when we go there!  The people we help prepare food for are wonderful individuals who always appreciate what is offered.  Smiles abounded all day as Rescue Mission served over 1,200 throughout the day.

Hissho has a reputation for “blowing it out” on Halloween each year. Our creative staff goes to all lengths to surprise, shock and cause howls of laughter each year. 2015 was NO EXCEPTION! Hope you enjoy the following photos as much as we do!

Our pumpkin decorating contest made it really hard to pick 3 winners! Which ones would you haven chosen?

On Friday, September 25^th, Hissho had a “Tailgate Party.”  It was supposed to be outside, but the weather dictated otherwise.  Hissho’s Core Value # 8 is Generate Fun.  And that we did!  Starting the occasion with Moon Cakes to recognize the Harvest Moon Festival, co-workers took their task seriously in downing these delicious delicacies.

The food was either homemade or purchased by our employees with prizes for the best homemade in both savory & dessert categories.

Ping-pong ruled the day, with a serious tournament among the employees.

Our Logistics Department warehouse team had fierce participants.

The fare was so delicious that many went back several times for more. It was so nice to have time to relax and chat with each other beyond what the work details demanded.


No question here…….. great conversation and fun.

Our HR Department was definitely ready to party!

Corn Hole was a hit, and our Marketing and Logistics Team members rocked it!!

OK, yes it was funny!

Lots of new babies for our 2nd Generation Hissho team and this one is no exception!

A serious game of Texas Hold ‘Em that went way beyond closing time!

What a great way to end the week!

To our Hissho friends that attend university, we will have either sushi or hot bar (or both!) in the following locations this fall:

• Babson College | Babson Park, Massachusetts
• Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee
• Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts
• Binghamton University (SUNY) | Binghamton, New York
• Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska
• Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado
• Fordham University | Bronx, New York, New York
• DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
• Gardner Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina
• Georgia Regents University | Phoenix, Arizona
• Howard University | Washington, D.C.
• IUPUI | Indianapolis, Indiana
• Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia
• Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California
• Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato, Minnesota
• Montgomery College | Rockville, Maryland
• NC A&T | Greensboro, North Carolina
• Plymouth State University | Plymouth, New Hampshire
• Ramapo College | Mahwah, New Jersey
• Radford University | Radford, Virginia
• Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, New York
• South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, South Carolina
• St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota
• Suffolk University | Boston, Massachusetts
• Troy University | Troy, Alabama
• University of Idaho | Moscow, Idaho
• University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky
• University of North Alabama | Florence, Alabama
• University of North Carolina-Greensboro | Greensboro, North Carolina
• University of South Carolina | Columbia, South Carolina
• University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin, Tennessee
• University of Texas-El Paso | El Paso, Texas
• University of Texas-Pan American | Edinburg, Texas
• Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, Virginia
• Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• William Paterson University | Wayne, New Jersey

Stay in touch for Hissho’s next openings in our non-grocery locations!

It’s Official!  Hissho has earned a space in the 2015 Inc. 5000 list.  For the 5^th time in 6 years Hissho is named as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and has earned the position of #4028.
Hissho was ranked #124 in the Food & Beverage Industry, #119 in the state of North Carolina and #44 in the city of Charlotte.
The President and Editor in Chief of Inc. 500l5000, Eric Schurenberg, stated that, “Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success.”
Congratulations to CEO Philip Maung and all of the Hissho employees who have worked hard to earn this honor.  For more information see:  http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list/2015/ & http://www.inc.com/profile/hissho-sushi

The Hissho Team had an amazing time at this year’s IDDBA Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar and Expo in Atlanta, Ga.

For those not in the know, IDDBA is the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association – an essential resource for dairy, deli and bakery professionals. Originally founded in 1964 as the Wisconsin Cheese Seminar, it has evolved over the years to reflect the changing needs of professionals in the dairy, deli, bakery and related industries.
Each year, IDDBA conducts an annual seminar and expo, “Dairy-Deli-Bake,” that features the finest in dairy, deli and bakery: new products, new suppliers, new contacts, new (and old) buyers and new ideas. For the past several years, Hissho has been honored to be an exhibitor at this exciting show.

The Hissho crew arrived on Friday to unload our goodies and check out our booth space. (We were super stoked about being neighbors with Stacy’s Pita Chips and Sabra – can we say, “Nomz?!”)


On Saturday, we jumped into action early, setting up our booth and prepping food for our sampling. This year’s show was extra special for us as we were debuting our hot foods program, Asian to Go, to new prospects. So with a double duty of sampling both hot food and sushi, the team had a lot of veggies to chop!

The show runs three days, typically Sunday through Tuesday, and our chefs banged out some fantastically colorful displays for each day.





All in all, we had a great show! We were able to meet tons of new people, see some familiar faces and sample some wickedly awesome food. We hope to see everyone again in 2016!